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Chapter 471: The Three of Us (1)

After Schiller found the safe he had left behind in the basement of Metropolis Manor, he retrieved the "Philby List" that everyone was looking for. Inside the safe was also a medal from the Soviet Union, indicating that the original Schiller might have had a relationship with the Soviets.

Now, Schiller's former classmate, Brand, confirmed that Schiller was indeed a Marxist, who had not only visited East Berlin but also lived in Moscow and joined the KGB, and later defected from it.

According to Brand, Schiller came to Gotham to seek refuge, precisely to escape from the KGB.

This reasoning made sense since Schiller discovered through spider web-like traces that the original Schiller was not an ordinary person. He wouldn't have come to this city of sin just to escape from ordinary adversaries. However, if it was the KGB, even the present-day Schiller would have to be cautious.

Many people might not realize how powerful this organization was. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, it transformed into the Russian Federation's Federal Security Service and lost some of its former glory. But during the Soviet era, the KGB was undoubtedly the world's number one spy organization.

Due to ideological reasons, the Soviet Union was in constant conflict with the rest of the world, and the KGB was in perpetual opposition to spy organizations worldwide. During the years when the Soviet Union still existed, this spy organization was always facing multiple disadvantages, yet the result was that all other countries' spy agencies had to join forces to barely withstand its attacks.

Of course, it was 1988 now, and the Soviet Union was facing serious internal conflicts, and its economic situation was not as robust as before. Consequently, the KGB's power had also declined, but without a doubt, it remained the most formidable spy organization in the world.

If the original Schiller had gotten involved with such a powerful force, seeking refuge in Gotham would be a reasonable choice.

However, there was still a doubt. Previously, Schiller had encountered a group of troublemakers from Metropolis in Gotham. These individuals were not very professional and didn't pose a significant threat. Schiller speculated that it might have been a probing action by the KGB.

As the world's most powerful spy organization, the KGB wouldn't be unaware of Gotham's uniqueness. Instead of foolishly sending in agents directly like the CIA, they chose to instigate some forces from Metropolis to test the waters. This reasoning also made sense.

The only problem was that the assassins who later came for him were not KGB agents but Undertaker.

Schiller didn't believe that the KGB would hire a freelance mercenary to kill him, especially when Schiller likely possessed some valuable information. Undertaker had gone all-out to finish him, which didn't align with the KGB's usual approach.

To know the answer to this question, he would need Undertaker to reveal the identity of the person who hired him. However, dealing with the seasoned mercenary was no easy task. Moreover, Undertaker was elusive and unpredictable, making it purely a matter of luck to contact him. Schiller didn't have time to search for him all over the world.

In addition to searching for external clues, Schiller had another option – investigating his own memories.

Schiller spent a long time going through the files in the Temple of Thought, but he was certain that he hadn't found any memories of the original Schiller involving spy work. Memories of his growth, education, graduation, work, and even involvement in those bizarre cases existed, but they weren't very clear...

Schiller couldn't be sure if this was a result of his time-travel or if there were other hidden reasons.

With so few clues about this matter, he couldn't make an accurate judgment, but since it wasn't an urgent matter, Schiller wasn't in a hurry to investigate.

To put it bluntly, the Soviet Union was almost beyond saving at this point. In a maximum of three years, the country would disappear, and no matter how great the enmity between Schiller and the KGB, everything would dissipate like smoke after three years.

In the office of Arkham Asylum, Schiller slowly recounted the events that happened in Metropolis to Brand.

"...That's roughly the situation. It's quite dramatic, don't you think?"

Brand rolled his eyes slightly and said, "Only you would describe this dangerous affair involving various factions and frequent murders as a drama..."

Opening his medical record, Brand said, "I can prescribe some anti-anxiety medication for you. You need to adjust your routine and relax. I don't think I need to mention the rest of the advice..."

"By the way, Hugo Strange, who replaced me, has become a patient. So, who is the chief doctor at Arkham Hospital now?"

"Let's not talk about that." Brand let out a deep sigh. "After Hugo was admitted to the hospital, I went to the mayor and Bruce Wayne, hoping they could hire another chief doctor for the hospital."

"Since you arrived here, you've had little contact with your old teachers and classmates. If it weren't for you still publishing papers, they would have thought you died in Gotham."

"Hugo's situation is even more extreme. He hasn't been here for a week, and he changed from a doctor to a patient, cutting off all connections with his former circle."

"As for me, to avoid troubles, I rarely interact with the outside world."

"We three, among us, you are the most famous, but Hugo and I aren't too bad either. All three renowned psychologists ended up at Arkham Asylum. Who else do you think would dare to come here?"

Schiller propped his chin up with his finger and said, "As long as they pay enough money, there should be a few daredevils, right?"

Brand sneered and said, "Haven't you noticed yet? This godforsaken place called Gotham is far from normal. Even mentally stable ordinary people might become chaotic here, let alone those who were already mentally unstable lunatics; they can only end up as patients."

"Do you think anyone who dares to come to Gotham and play with their lives would be a normal person?"

"I'll need a week to organize all the work and then hand it over to the new chief doctor. But how long can he stay in that position? Three days? One week?"

"More importantly, thanks to your brilliant administrative skills, we don't have any spare hospital rooms left for crazy chief doctors. If another insane doctor comes, they might have to be housed in the bathroom."

"So, Hugo is considered lucky then?"

"Yeah, at least he managed to get the last available hospital room. Otherwise, I'd really have to lock him up in a bathroom stall."

Schiller shrugged, stood up, adjusted his clothes, and then said to Brand, "I think you should talk to the mayor and negotiate for a raise for your job as the acting chief doctor, right?"

Brand didn't look up, he only lifted his eyelids and rolled his eyes, looking at Schiller, saying, "When Victor called me on the phone earlier, I didn't feel nervous at all. Now it seems your condition has worsened again. Hurry up and take your medicine!"

Schiller shrugged again and exchanged a few more sarcastic remarks with Brand before intending to leave. Just as he turned around, Brand called him back, saying:

"Oh, by the way, I forgot to tell you something. Yesterday, I received a strange phone call. I don't know what happened, but the person on the other end somehow made my telephone receiver fly."

"He said he's your friend and wanted a fixed bed in the hospital..."

Schiller turned back to ask Brand, "Please don't tell me that person is named Constantine?"

"That's the name. He spoke with a heavy U.K. accent and seemed quite intoxicated. He didn't clearly state his condition and symptoms. What's up with him?"

"If he calls again, just scold him and hang up the phone."

Schiller had just said that when a crisp telephone ring came from the desk. Both Schiller and Brand's eyes fell on the telephone.

Brand shook his head, gesturing for Schiller to answer the phone. As Schiller approached the phone, he hesitated for a moment. He picked up a tissue from the side, wrapped it around the microphone, and then picked up the telephone receiver and placed it to his ear.

"Hello?"

"Hello? Is this Dr. Brand? It's me, Constantine, the one who called yesterday. Um... can I come to your treatment now? I'm feeling a bit..."

"Constantine, listen, if you want to buy medicine, go to the pharmacy near East District Pier. We don't offer discounts here. If you're looking for a romantic partner, head to the red-light district. We don't have what you're looking for here..."

"Uh, Schiller? Why is it you? Have you gone back to work?"

Constantine suddenly sobered up, and Schiller heard a commotion on his end, seemingly with gunshots. He heard Constantine muttering to himself:

"Darn it, he's following me again... Wait, why is this Magic Circle drawn wrong? Did I drink too much?"

"Oh, wait, wait!... Batman! Don't attack, I haven't done anything wrong. I'm just resting here for a while! I haven't committed any crimes, you can't..."

"Swish! Swish! Bang! Boom! Crash... Crash..."

A few violent noises came from the other end of the telephone, and as Constantine gasped for breath, the commotion on the other side finally quieted down.

Constantine panted and said, "Thank goodness I ran fast; that darned madman..."

"What's wrong with you? If there's nothing else, I'll hang up."

"No! No! Schiller, as friends, please help me! I've had enough of this darned guy in the tight suit!"

Before Schiller could ask, Constantine began pouring his heart out:

"That guy named Batman is a complete lunatic! He's been stalking me from the start, like some sort of peeping pervert. Even when I try to have fun at bars or the red-light district, he follows me!"

"Lately, he's become even more aggressive. He's been restricting my freedom, assaulting me, kidnapping me... Oh God, he must be trying to kill me!"

"Constantine... you know?" Schiller interrupted him, speaking in a low tone. "I've always felt that Batman is a bit too obsessed with enforcing justice and fighting crime in Gotham, and his methods are inefficient..."

Just as Constantine was about to agree, Schiller suddenly changed his tone to one of admiration:

"But I have to admit, lately, he's truly become a Gotham hero. If he manages to knock you out, I'll build a monument for him right in the center of the central roundabout."

"Please, Schiller, let me hide for a couple of days. Just two days, and I promise not to bother you anymore..."

Surprisingly, Schiller didn't immediately refuse. Instead, he asked, "What exactly did you do to tick off Batman?"

"I didn't... okay, you know I'm a devout believer, so I go to church on the Sabbath to pray..."

"Other believers should really thank you. When you went to pray, God found out and decided to leave heaven, carrying the cross overnight."

Constantine snorted, saying, "Stop joking, I'm serious. When I went to church to pray, I happened to notice something suspicious underground. Of course, to ensure the safety of all believers, I had to investigate..."

"How much did you take?"

"Just a small vial. You mean Batman... No, I didn't take anything. Uh... I mean, I don't know what you're talking about..."

Schiller chuckled, and Constantine followed with a laugh on the other end of the telephone. Then he heard Schiller say fiercely:

"No way to save you. Prepare for the worst."

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